Stasis – Immersive cinematic video installation about young refugees – Exhibition opening this week

Stasis is a series of data portraits created by artist Kenneth Lambert in collaboration with STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors). The artworks are abstracted video sequences and recount the untold stories of young people  who identify as refugees living in NSW.  The artworks are created from digital material derived from the audio and video footage of  the interview subjects. Through a series of data portraits and immersive presentation, the artist encourages viewers to contemplate the human condition through technology.

The artistic process embraces a recognised clinical approach, Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), which utilises storytelling as an effective tool to contribute to the recovery and well-being of the participants. At the intersection of data translation, film and art installation, Stasis’ experimental approach is a unique form of storytelling presented as an art form.

The project focuses on three specific communities, the Uyghur, Hazara, and Syrian communities who have experienced mental and physical trauma, incarceration, torture, being socially disadvantaged and geographically displaced. Stasis creates a safe opportunity for those underrepresented in our community to share their story, contributing positively to their mental health and promoting empathy around their stories and places of origin.

The project was created in collaboration with STARTTS and supported by Amnesty International and Australia for UNHCR.
Stasis was made possible through the support of Create NSW and the Australia Council for the Arts.
Stasis will be open from the 17th April to the 12th May 2023 at Verge Gallery (www.verge-gallery.net)